Method and Device For Installing Door Glass on Vehicle Door

ABSTRACT

A method of installing a door glass ( 15 ) on a vehicle door ( 16 ). The door glass is tilted relative to the front-rear direction of a vehicle to reduce the length in the front-rear direction of the door glass. The tilted door glass is lowered to position it between a pair of sashes ( 121, 122 ) provided at the front and rear of the vehicle door. The tilt of the door glass is corrected to a predetermined level to fit the door glass into the front and rear sashes and then the door glass is lowered.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to an improvement in a method and devicefor installing a door glass in a vehicle door.

BACKGROUND ART

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publication No. 5-69865, forexample, discloses a method for mounting a door glass in a vehicle doorwhich comprises an inner panel part and an outer panel part and in whichthe inner panel is mounted on the outer panel part with the door glassbeing mounted on the inner panel part in advance. This door glassmounting method will be described with reference to FIGS. 11 and 12hereof.

FIG. 11 shows a state in which the door glass is being assembled. Avehicle door 200 has an outer panel part 201 and an inner panel part202.

The outer panel part 201 has an outer door panel 204 that constitutes alower portion, and a door frame 205 that is installed on an upper partof the outer door panel 204.

The inner panel part 202 is provided with an inner door panel 207. Awindow regulator 211, a door glass 212, a door lock 213, and a doorglass guide 214 are installed in the inner door panel 207 prior toinstalling the inner panel part 202 on the outer panel part 201.

The window regulator 211 has a main guide 216, a guide slider 215 thatis moveably installed inside the main guide 216, a wire 217 that isconnected to both ends of the guide slider 215, a drum 218 on which thewire 217 is wound, and a motor 221 for driving the drum 218. A channel223 is rotatably installed on engagement protrusions 222 disposed on theguide slider 215. A bracket (not shown) disposed on a lower end of thedoor glass 212 is fastened to the channel 223.

The door glass guide 214 guides one end of the door glass 212. Aplurality of installation holes 225 is provided to the outer door panel204. A plurality of installation holes 226 is provided to the inner doorpanel 207.

FIG. 12 shows in cross-section the door frame 205 and the door glass 212of FIG. 11. A door glass run 228 is fitted into the door frame 205. Thedoor glass 212 has a corner piece 231 for movement within the door glassrun 228.

The mounting of the inner panel part 202 on the outer panel part 201will be described briefly below.

First, a machine tool is used to tilt the inner panel part 202, to fitthe inner panel part into a notch 233 formed in the outer door panel204, and to temporarily join the outer panel part 201 and the innerpanel part 202 to each other.

The inner panel part 202 is then returned to the true position of theouter panel part 201, the door glass 212 is rotated, and the cornerpiece 231 of the door glass 212 is fitted into the door glass run 228.

Finally, the outer panel part 201 and the inner panel part 202 arefastened together by bolts via the installation holes 225, 226.

The door glass 212 is installed on the inner door panel 207 in advance,the outer panel part 201 and the inner panel part 202 are temporarilyjoined together, and the corner piece 231 of the door glass 212 is thenfitted into the door glass run 228. It is believed, however, that errorsin mounting the door glass 212 in the inner door panel 207, as well aserrors in mounting the door frame 205 to the outer door panel 204, bringabout considerable displacement between the corner piece 231 and thedoor glass run 228, and make it difficult to fit these componentstogether.

These mounting errors accumulate and enhance each other because of thesequential installation of the main guide 216 of the window regulator211, the engagement protrusions 222 of the guide slider 215, the channel223, the bracket, and the door glass 212 to the inner door panel 207.

Since a front end of the door glass 212 is guided by the door glassguide 214, the movement of the door glass 212 with respect to the innerdoor panel 207 is restricted, and the operation of fitting the cornerpiece 231 into the door glass run 228 becomes difficult.

In view of the above, a technique is needed for readily mounting a doorglass in a run channel provided to a sash of a vehicle door.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided amethod for installing a door glass in a vehicle door, which methodcomprises the steps of: reducing a longitudinal length of the door glassby tilting the door glass, in a state being held by holding means, in alongitudinal direction of the vehicle at a position above a spacedefined by an inner panel and an outer panel of the vehicle door;positioning the door glass between a pair of sashes provided on frontand rear parts of the vehicle door by lowering the tilted door glass;correcting the tilt of the door glass to a predetermined state andfitting in the door glass between the front and rear sashes; andlowering the door glass fitted between the front and rear sashes to adoor glass installation position located proximately to a windowregulator.

Thus, according to the method of the present invention, the door glassis tilted in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, and the lengthof the door glass is reduced in the longitudinal direction. The tilteddoor glass is lowered and is positioned between the pair of sashes. Thetilt of the door glass is corrected to a predetermined state, and thedoor glass is fitted into the front and rear sashes. Accordingly, thedoor glass can be readily fitted into run channels provided to the frontand rear sashes, and the door glass can be lowered along the channels inthis state. As a result, the door glass can be readily and quicklymounted in a vehicle door.

Preferably, the door glass is kept in a float-supported state via theholding means when the door glass is lowered to the door glassinstallation position.

Floating support of the door glass via the holding means thus allows,e.g., the door glass to more readily follow the shape of the runchannels inside the sashes when the glass fitted in the front and rearsashes is lowered to a glass mounting position that is near the windowregulator, and the door glass to be lowered easily and rapidly withoutthe application of unnecessary force while the door glass is lowered.Accordingly, the door glass can be mounted in the vehicle door moreeasily, and vehicle doors can be produced with greater efficiency.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provideda device for installing a door glass in a vehicle door, which devicecomprises: holding means for holding the door glass;float-supporting/locking means for supporting the door glass in afloating state via the holding means and for releasing the door glassfrom the floating state and locking the door glass at a predeterminedposition; conveying means supporting the float-supporting/locking meansto thereby convey the door glass from a predetermined position to thevehicle door; and control means for controlling thefloat-supporting/locking means to tilt the door glass, conveyed by theconveying means to the vehicle door for mounting in the vehicle door, inthe vehicle longitudinal direction and to level the door glass so as.

The holding means is installed on the conveying means via the floatinglock means, and the door glass is held by the holding means and isconveyed from a predetermined position to the vehicle door. The controldevice controls the process so that the door glass is tilted or leveledin the longitudinal direction of the vehicle in order to mount the doorglass on the vehicle door; the door glass is then lowered into thesashes of the vehicle door, is supported in a floating state by thefloating lock means, is lowered to a predetermined position, and is thenlocked from the floating state. Accordingly, the installation processescan be carried out quickly and accurately at a desired timing. Vehicledoors, and hence vehicles, can be produced with greater efficiency.

Furthermore, the installation device of the present invention cansupport the door glass in a floating state via the holding means, and isprovided with floating lock means capable of floating and locking. Thedoor glass supported in a floating state is therefore not restricted bycomponents that constitute the vehicle door when the door glass ismounted on the vehicle door; unnecessary force is not applied to thedoor glass; and the door glass can be mounted with greater ease.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a door glass and an installationdevice according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view showing a hand part of the door glassinstallation device shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating an electrical functional of adoor glass control device according to the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a view showing a state in which a floating mechanism movesalong a Y-axis direction and in which a holding part for holding thedoor glass is supported in a floating state in the Y-axis direction;

FIG. 6 is a view showing a state in which the floating mechanism movesalong an X-axis direction and in which the holding part for holding thedoor glass is supported in a floating state in the X-axis direction;

FIG. 7 is a view showing a state in which the holding part for holdingthe door glass is supported in a floating state about a pivot shaft;

FIGS. 8A through 8C are views showing a state in which the holding partis placed in a locked state from a condition of being supported in afloating state about the pivot shaft;

FIGS. 9A through 9E are views illustrating a manner f mounting of thedoor glass in the vehicle door;

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a sequence in which the door glass ismounted on the vehicle door of FIGS. 9A through E;

FIG. 11 is a view showing a state in which a door glass is mounted in aconventional vehicle door; and

FIG. 12 is a sectional view of a door frame and the door glass of FIG.11.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Certain preferred embodiments of the present invention are described indetail below, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanyingdrawings.

FIG. 1 shows a vehicle door glass installation device 10 that isprovided with a floating lock device 28 according to the presentinvention.

The vehicle door glass installation device 10 (referred to below simplyas “door glass installation device 10”) is a robot for mounting a doorglass 15 in a vehicle door 16.

The door glass installation device 10 has a conveying part 11, a handpart 12 that is installed on a distal end of the conveying part 11, anda door glass control device 110 (see FIG. 4) for controlling the drivingof the conveying part 11 and the hand part 12. The door glass 15 is heldby a holding part 13 that is provided to a distal end part of the handpart 12, and is mounted on the vehicle door 16.

The conveying part 11 has a first arm part 21 swingably and rotatablyinstalled on a base portion (not shown), a first joint part 22 swingablyinstalled on the first arm part 21, a second arm part 23 rotatably andswingably installed on the first joint part 22, and a second joint part24 swingably installed on a distal end of the second arm part 23 andconnected to the hand part 12. The base part, the first arm part 21, thesecond arm part 23, and the second joint part 24 are driven by a motor(not shown).

The hand part 12 has a force sensor 27 (see FIG. 2) installed on thesecond joint part 24 of the conveying part 11, a floating lock device 28installed on the force sensor 27, and a holding part 13 that isinstalled on a distal end of the floating lock device 28 and that holdsthe door glass 15.

The force sensor 27 detects reaction force that is applied to the doorglass 15. Specifically, the force sensor detects force in the axialdirection of the mutually orthogonal X, Y, and Z axes, as well as torquearound each of the X, Y, and Z axes. The X axis is a horizontaldirection that lies substantially in the plane of the door glass 15, theY axis is a direction that is substantially orthogonal to the plane ofthe door glass 15, and the Z axis is a vertical direction.

The floating lock device 28 provides a movable support (referred tobelow as “floating support”) to the door glass 15 around a distal endpart of the conveying part 11 via the holding part 13. The floating lockdevice 28 also brings about a fixed state (referred to below as“floating lock”) for the door glass 15 to the conveying part 11 via theholding part 13. The structure and operation will be described in detailbelow.

The door glass 15 is plate glass that has a slight curve. Regulatorattachments 31, 31 for installing the door glass 15 on the windowregulator are disposed at a lower end part of the door glass 15.

The vehicle door 16 has an inner panel 33, an outer panel installed onthe exterior of the inner panel 33, and a sash 35 installed on top partsof the inner panel 33 and the outer panel 34. The door glass 15 isinserted and mounted in a space 36 between the inner panel 33 and theouter panel 34.

FIG. 2 shows the hand part 12 shown in FIG. 1. The holding part 13 isinstalled on a distal end part of the floating lock device 28, and thefloating lock device 28 is installed on the force sensor 27.

The holding part 13 has a fixed part 41 installed on the floating lockdevice 28, and a moving part 43 that is driven relative to the fixedpart 41 by two cylinder devices 42, 42. The door glass 15 shown in FIG.1 is sandwiched and held between the fixed part 41 and the moving part43.

As shown in FIG. 3, the floating lock device 28 has a base part 51installed on the force sensor 27, a floating mechanism 52 installed on alower portion of the base part 51, and a floating lock mechanism 53installed on an upper part of the base part 51.

The floating mechanism 52 is provided with a horizontal slidingmechanism 55 installed on the base part 51, a vertical sliding mechanism56 installed on a lower part of the horizontal sliding mechanism 55, aswing mechanism 57 installed on a top part of the vertical slidingmechanism 56, and a main rod 58 that connects the holding part 13 to theswing mechanism 57.

The horizontal sliding mechanism 55 moves the holding part 13 in adirection perpendicular to the plane (X-axis direction) of the Figurewith respect to the base part 51. The horizontal sliding mechanism 55has a rail 63 provided to the base part 51, a slider part 64 slidablyfitted on the rail 63, and a support member 65 that is installed on theslider part 64 and that supports the vertical sliding mechanism 56. Asliding member 66 is provided to the slider 64 so as to allow the sliderto move stably and smoothly on the rail 63.

The vertical sliding mechanism 56 slides the components of the holdingpart 13 in the Y-axis direction. The vertical sliding mechanism 56 has aguide support column 68 installed on the support member 65, a sliderguide 71 slidably fitted to the guide support column 68, and a cylinderdevice 73 for driving the slider guide 71 via a connecting member 72.The reference numbers 74, 75 indicate a cylinder and a rod thatconstitute the cylinder device 73.

The swing mechanism 57 swings the holding part 13 in a directionperpendicular to the plane the Figure. The swing mechanism 57 has apivot shaft 76 provided to the slider guide 71, and a bearing part 81rotatably installed on the pivot shaft 76 via bearings 79, 79. A collar82 is provided between the bearings 79, 79. A nut 83 is threaded onto amale screw part 76 a of the pivot shaft 76 in order to prevent thebearings 79, 79 from coming off the pivot shaft 76.

The bearing part 81 has a body part 84 into which the bearings 79, 79are fitted, a lower support member 78 installed on a lower part of thebody part 84, and a cap 85 for covering an opening of the body part 84.The main rod 58 is connected to the body part 84.

A notch 78 a is formed in the lower support member 78, and a pin 77embedded in the slider guide 71 is disposed in the notch 78 a, wherebythe rotation angle of the lower support member 78 is determined by thecircumferential space between the pin 77 and the notch 78 a. Therotation amount of bearing part 81 with the respect to the slider guide71 is therefore restricted. A slot that extends along thecircumferential direction may be formed instead of the notch 78 a in thelower support member 78.

The floating lock mechanism 53 has slider guides 87, 87 (see FIG. 2)installed on the base part 51; slider support columns 88, 88 (see FIG.2) slidably inserted in the slider guides 87, 87; a cross bar 91installed on the distal ends of the slider support columns 88, 88; a camplate 92 installed on a lower part of the cross bar 91; a locking cam 93installed on the cap 85 in order to release and lock the floating stateprovided by the floating mechanism 52 by fitting into a cam groove 92 aformed in the cam plate 92; and a cylinder device 94 (see FIG. 2)installed on the cross bar 91 in order to move the cam plate 92 alongthe Y-axis direction.

As shown in FIG. 2, the cylinder device 94 has a cylinder 96 and a rod97.

The cam plate 92 and the locking cam 93 constitute a cam mechanism 98.

The holding part 13 is provided with the fixed part 41, which has aU-shaped cross-section; and the moving part 43, which is installed ondistal ends of rods 42 a of the cylinder devices 42. The fixed part 41has first and second rubber pads 101, 102. The moving part 43 has athird rubber pad 103. The fixed part 41 is installed on the main rod 58by a fitting 104, and is installed on the fitting 104 by a bolt 105.

FIG. 4 shows an electrical functional block diagram of the door glasscontrol device 110.

The door glass control device 110 shown in FIG. 4 has a forcecalculating part 111 whereby the reaction force applied to the doorglass is calculated based on a force signal SF outputted from the forcesensor 27, a storage part 112 for storing a conveying route of the doorglass 15, and a controller 113.

The controller 113 generates a first drive signal SD1 based on areaction force signal SR outputted from the force calculating part 111,and also generates a second drive signal SD2, third drive signal SD3,and fourth drive signal SD4 based on a storage signal SM from thestorage part 112.

A conveying part drive unit 114 drives the conveying part 11 on thebasis of the first drive signal SD1.

Based on the second drive signal SD2, a first cylinder drive unit 116drives the cylinder device 73 for sliding in the Y-axis direction.

Based on the third drive signal SD3, a second cylinder drive unit 117drives the cylinder device 94 for maintaining a floating lock state.

Based on the fourth drive signal SD4, a third cylinder drive unit 118drives the cylinder devices 42 for holding the door glass.

Specifically, the controller 113 performs the following controlprocedure.

(1) Conveyance of the door glass 15 by the conveying part 11 iscontrolled so as to follow the conveying route of the door glass 15 thatis stored in the storage part 112, the tilting and leveling of the doorglass 15 is controlled as described in detail below, and correction ofthe orientation of the door glass 15 during conveying is controlledbased on the reaction force from the force sensor 27.

(2) The driving of the cylinder device 73 for sliding in the Y-axisdirection is controlled, and control is carried out so as to move theholding part 13 along the Y-axis direction via the floating lock device28.

(3) The driving of the cylinder device 94 for maintaining a float lockstate is controlled so that the door glass 15 is kept in a state offloating support or released from the state of floating support (i.e.,locked from the floating state) by the floating lock device 28.

(4) The driving of the cylinder devices 42 for holding the door glass iscontrolled so that the door glass 15 disposed at the conveying startingposition is grasped and held, and so that the door glass 15 is releasedat the conveying end position.

The operation of the floating lock device 28 will be described below.

FIG. 5 shows a state of floating support in the Y-axis direction.

The floating mechanism 52 can be moved (slid to the left in the Figure)along the arrowed Y-axis direction by the vertical sliding mechanism 56(see FIG. 3). If the door glass 15 is subjected to external force, thedoor glass 15 will be moved along the Y-axis direction via the holdingpart 13, and the door glass 15 will be kept in a state of floatingsupport in the Y-axis direction.

FIG. 6 shows a state of floating support in the X-axis direction.

The floating mechanism 52 can be moved along the arrowed X-axisdirection (slid downward in the Figures) by the horizontal slidingmechanism 55 (see FIG. 3). If the door glass 15 is subjected to externalforce, the door glass 15 will be moved along the X-axis direction viathe holding part 13, and the door glass 15 will be kept in a state offloating support in the X-axis direction.

FIG. 7 shows a state of floating support about the pivot shaft.

The floating mechanism 52 can be caused to swing (in the clockwisedirection in the Figure) about the pivot shaft 76 (indicated by a point76) by the swing mechanism 57 (see FIG. 3). If the door glass 15 issubjected to external force, the door glass 15 will be caused to swingabout the pivot shaft 76 via the holding part 13 (θ is the swing angle),and the door glass 15 will be kept in a state of floating support aboutthe pivot shaft 76.

FIGS. 8A through 8C show a case in which the state of floating supportabout the pivot shaft 76 shown in FIG. 7 is released.

As shown in FIG. 8A, the cam plate 92 of the floating lock mechanism 53is moved in the direction of the arrow in a state in which the holdingpart 13 is caused to swing about the pivot shaft 76 by the swingmechanism 57 (see FIG. 3).

As shown in FIG. 8B, the locking cam 93 moves along an inner surface ofthe cam groove 92 a of the cam plate 92 when the cam plate 92 comes intocontact with the locking cam 93. Therefore, the holding part 13 swingsabout the pivot shaft 76 as shown by the arrow, and the swing angle θ isgradually reduced.

Finally, as shown in FIG. 8C, the locking cam 93 is completely fittedinto the cam groove 92 a, and the holding part 13 is returned to apredetermined position and fixed in place in this position.Specifically, a state of floating support is achieved.

The float lock can also be carried out from a state of floating supportin the X-axis direction shown in FIG. 6. In the state of floatingsupport in the Y-axis direction shown in FIG. 5, the vertical slidingmechanism 56 (see FIG. 3) is operated, the holding part 13 is returnedto the initial position, and the floating lock mechanism 53 is thenoperated to achieve a state of floating lock.

Therefore, the holding part 13 can be rapidly brought to a state offloating lock at a predetermined position by the floating lock mechanism53 even in a state of combined floating support in the Y-axis direction,in the X-axis direction, and around the pivot shaft.

A method for installing the door glass 15 in the vehicle door 16 will bedescribed below on the basis of FIGS. 9A through 9E.

As shown in FIG. 9A, first, an upper edge part of the door glass 15,which is positioned at a glass supply position, is brought into contactwith the first pad 101 and the second pad 102. The moving part 43 of theholding part 13 is then driven by the cylinder devices 42, and the doorglass 15 is sandwiched by the first pad 101 and the third pad 103.

At this time, the door glass 15 is kept in a state of floating lock.While the reaction force applied to the door glass 15 is detected by theforce sensor 27 (see FIG. 4), the door glass control device 110 controlsthe driving of the conveying part 11 as needed on the basis of thereaction force, and the orientation of the holding part 13 with respectto the door glass 15 is corrected.

While being held upright, the door glass 15 is subsequently tilted inthe longitudinal direction of the vehicle door 16, i.e., so that thefront edge 15 a of the door glass 15 is tilted forward and downward asshown by the arrow A, and is moved to a position above the space 36between the inner panel 33 (see FIG. 1) and the outer panel 34 of thevehicle door 16.

Reference numerals 121, 122 designate a front lower sash and a rearlower sash, respectively, provided inside the automotive vehicle door 16in order to guide the front and rear of the door glass 15. A space L2between the front and rear of the tilted door glass 15 is less than aspace L1 between the front lower sash 121 and the rear lower sash 122.Therefore, the door glass 15 can be lowered between the front lower sash121 and the rear lower sash 122 from the space 36, as shown by the arrowB.

As shown in FIG. 9C, the door glass 15 is rotated in the direction shownby the arrow C (the direction opposite of the direction in which thedoor glass 15 is tilted), the tilted state of the door glass 15 iscorrected to the initial horizontal state, and the front edge 15 a andrear edge 15 b of the door glass 15 are fitted into rubber run channels(not shown) mounted inside the front lower sash 121 and the rear lowersash 122. When excessive reaction force is detected by the force sensorduring correction of the tilted state of the door glass 15, theconveying part 11 (FIG. 4) is controlled by the door glass controldevice 110 so that the reaction force decreases to a predeterminedvalue.

The door glass 15 is then brought to a state of floating support, and islowered along the run channels of the front lower sash 121 and the rearlower sash 122, as shown by the arrow D.

FIG. 9D shows a state in which the door glass 15 is lowered to apredetermined position from the state in FIG. 9C while being kept in astate of floating support.

In the present invention, the door glass 15 is kept in a state offloating support when lowered from the state shown in FIG. 9C to thestate shown in FIG. 9D, whereby the door glass 15 can be smoothlylowered along the run channels without the application of unnecessaryforce to the door glass 15 while allowing for variations in thedimensional and assembly accuracy of the front lower sash 121, the rearlower sash 122, and the run channels.

Finally, as shown in FIG. 9E, the regulator attachments 31, 31 of thedoor glass 15 are installed on the door glass attachments 125 a, 125 bof the window regulator 125 in the state shown in FIG. 9D.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart of the method for installing the door glassillustrated in FIGS. 9A through 9E.

Step (abbreviated below as ST) 01: The door glass 15, which ispositioned in the door glass supply position, is held by the holdingpart 13.

ST02: The door glass 15 is tilted in the longitudinal direction of thevehicle door 16 in an upright state, and is moved to a position abovethe space 36 between the inner panel 33 and outer panel 34 of thevehicle door 16.

ST03: The door glass 15 is lowered, inserted into the space 36 betweenthe inner panel 33 and the outer panel 34, and positioned between thefront lower sash 121 and the rear lower sash 122.

ST04: The door glass 15 is leveled to the initial state and fittedinside the run channels mounted on the front lower sash 121 and rearlower sash 122.

ST05: The door glass 15 is lowered to a predetermined position insidethe run channels in a state of floating support.

ST06: The door glass 15 is installed on the window regulator 125.

Installation of the door glass 15 in the vehicle door 16 is therebycompleted.

Thus, according to the method for installing a door glass according tothe present invention, the door glass 15 is tilted in the longitudinaldirection of the vehicle and then lowered, and is positioned between thefront lower sash 121 and the rear lower sash 122 (which constitute apair). The tilted state of the door glass 15 is then corrected to apredetermined state, whereby the door glass 15 is fitted in the frontlower sash 121 and the rear lower sash 122. Therefore, the door glass 15can be readily fitted into the run channels provided to the front lowersash 121 and the rear lower sash 122, and can be lowered along the runchannels in this state. The door glass 15 can therefore be readily andrapidly mounted.

When the door glass 15 is lowered along the front lower sash 121 and therear lower sash 122, the door glass 15 is kept in a state of floatingsupport via the holding part 13. Therefore, the door glass 15 can beeven more readily lowered along the shape of the run channels providedto the front lower sash 121 and the rear lower sash 122, and the doorglass 15 can be readily and rapidly lowered without the application ofunnecessary force to the door glass 15. Accordingly, the door glass 15can be mounted on the vehicle door 16 more easily, and the vehicle door16 can be produced with greater efficiency.

The door glass attachment device 10 of the present invention is providedwith the floating lock device 28, which can keep the door glass 15 in astate of floating support and a state of floating lock via the holdingpart 13, as shown in FIGS. 1, 3, and 4. Therefore, the door glass 15supported in the floating state can be readily lowered along the runchannels in the sashes without being restricted by the components of thevehicle door when mounted on the vehicle door 16. The door glass 15 cantherefore be mounted more easily without the application of unnecessaryforce to the door glass 15.

The door glass control device 110 controls the tilting or leveling ofthe door glass 15 in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle in orderto mount the door glass 15 in the vehicle door 16, and controls thefloating support or the floating lock of the door glass 15 by thefloating lock device 28. The presence of the door glass control device110 allows the tilting and leveling of the door glass 15, as well as thefloating support or the floating lock of the door glass 15, to berapidly and accurately carried out at a desired timing. Therefore, thevehicle door 16, and hence the automotive vehicle, can be produced withgreater efficiency.

In FIG. 1, a state approaching that of floating support can bemaintained by adopting an arrangement in which driving of the conveyingpart 11 is controlled by the door glass control device 110 in accordancewith the reaction force detected by the force sensor 27 shown in FIG. 4for the floating support of the holding part 13 in the Z-axis directionand around the X and Y axes.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

In accordance with the present invention, a door glass can be readilymounted in a vehicle door. The invention is thus useful in the field ofautomotive production.

1. A method for installing a door glass in a vehicle door, comprisingthe steps of: reducing a longitudinal length of the door glass bytilting the door glass, in a state being held by holding means, in alongitudinal direction of the vehicle at a position above a spacedefined by an inner panel and an outer panel of the vehicle door;positioning the door glass between a pair of sashes provided on frontand rear parts of the vehicle door by lowering the tilted door glass;correcting the tilt of the door glass to a predetermined state andfitting in the door glass between the front and rear sashes; andlowering the door glass fitted between the front and rear sashes to adoor glass installation position located proximately to a windowregulator.
 2. The door glass installing method of claim 1, wherein whenthe door glass is lowered to the door glass installation position, thedoor glass is floatingly supported via the holding means.
 3. A devicefor installing a door glass in a vehicle door, comprising: holding meansfor holding the door glass; float-supporting/locking means forsupporting the door glass in a floating state via the holding means andfor releasing the door glass from the floating state and locking thedoor glass at a predetermined position; conveying means supporting thefloat-supporting/locking means to thereby convey the door glass from apredetermined position to the vehicle door; and control means forcontrolling the float-supporting/locking means to tilt the door glass,conveyed by the conveying means to the vehicle door for mounting in thevehicle door, in the vehicle longitudinal direction and to level thedoor glass so as.